They were waiting for the bus when, in the words of Major Barbara Warner, leader of the Sally Army in West Reading, they were ‘mown down’.

A man in his mid-40s was also taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital.

The eight were being treated for head injuries and broken bones.

The maroon council van demolished the bus stop during the crash at around 3.10pm yesterday. Smashed glass covered the scene and the busy road was closed between Wilson Road and Grovelands Road while officers surveyed the scene.

A woman who lives opposite the bus stop, who did not want to be named, said: “I was in the house when I heard an almighty smash and when I came out it was mayhem. The bus stop has been completely wrecked but the van seemed relatively intact and the driver seemed fine.

“I saw at least seven people being taken to hospital, one looked pretty bad and one old lady seemed all right but she was sat on the bench and then she just collapsed and fell off and was taken to hospital.”

Major Warner was on her way to the hospital to help out.

She said: “The injured from the lunch club were conscious and speaking but had suffered a bang to the head, they were very shaken. The doctors and nurses are treating them at the moment.

“We’d had lunch and our meeting and they were on their way home. They had gone out to the bus stop and looking for the bus and it sounds like they were mown down. The bus stop almost exploded, there was glass everywhere, some had cuts.

“No-one really knows what happened as they all had their backs to it. It will be the shock as much as any injuries that will have an impact on them.”

Joe Wise, Royal Berkshire Hospital spokesman, said: “Following this afternoon’s incident in Oxford Road, a number of patients were taken to the A&E Department. Eight people have been admitted to A&E, all are now being assessed and treated. None of the patients have suffered life-threatening injuries. Injuries sustained include broken bones and two patients with head injuries.”

Reading Borough Council spokeswoman Sarah Bishton said: “We have been advised of an incident in Oxford Road and are helping police with their investigation.”

Police spokesman David Paull said: “At around 3.10pm a red Ford Transit van collided with a bus stop on the Oxford Road.

“The road was closed in both directions until 5.15pm while investigators attended the scene. The male driver is currently helping the police with their enquiries.”

PC Matthew Woollams-Seeney, who is investigating the collision, said: “I would like to hear from anyone that may have seen the vehicle prior to the collision or who witnessed the collision itself.”

Anyone with any information about the collision is asked to contact PC Woollams-Seeney at Three Mile Cross Roads Policing base via 0845 8 505 505 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.